Koppen Climate Classification Steps PDF

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Köppen Climate Classification System Climate Classification Steps A. Overview This system was developed by the Russian-born German climatologist Vladimir Köppen in 1918. Empirical System based solely on the observable elements of weather – temperature and precipitation. This system shows an orderly pattern of temperatures from low to high latitudes and is relatively easy to use, with only 6 top level categories. B. Köppen climate classification steps The following steps can used to figure out a location’s Köppen climate classification code (A-E only), given the temperature and precipitation data that is used to construct a climograph. 1. Determine if the station is an E-type climate.  If the warmest month is less than 10°C, go to step 2; if not, skip to step 3. 2. Determine if the station is an ET or EF climate.  If the warmest month is between 10° - 0°C, the climate type is ET  If the warmest month is less than 0°C, the climate type is EF 3. Determine if the station is a dry or B-type climate. 

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1st and 2nd letters: Use Figure 1 if 70% of precipitation falls during the summer. Use Figure 2 if 70% of precipitation falls during the winter. Use Figure 3 if neither half of year has more than 70% of annual precipitation. (Important: Assume that the summer season is April-September and the winter season is October-March in the Northern Hemisphere. This will be reversed in the Southern Hemisphere). Third letter of climate code if the station is a dry or B-type climate: if the mean annual temperature > 18°C, the 3rd letter is “h”. If the mean annual temperature is less than 18°C, the 3rd letter is “k” If it is not an arid climate (i.e. could belong to A, C, or D – the moist climates), continue on to step 4.

4. Determine if the station is an A-type climate. If the coolest month > 18°C, go to step 5; if not, skip to step 6. 5. Determine subcategory of A-type climate, using Table 1 (2nd and 3rd columns). 6. Determine if the station is a C- or D-type climate.  If the coldest month is 18°C - 0°C and at least one month > 10°C, continue to step 7.  If the coldest month is < 0°C and at least one month > 10°C, continue to step 7. 7. Identify the appropriate subcategories of the C- or D-type climate using Table 1 (2nd and 3rd columns).

Fig.1. Summer Maximum Precipitation

Fig.3. Evenly Distributed Precipitation

Source: McGraw Hill Higher Education

Fig.2. Winter Maximum Precipitation

Table 1. Simplified Köppen Classification of Climates

Source: McGraw Hill Higher Education...